n's

ang up the moment I stepped in, her eyes

ing toward me and wrapping her arms around me

the words shook in my throat. I didn't feel f

to find cracks in my skin. "You survived..." she breathed,

to another hug. "I was so scared," she whispe

I had survived something meant to destroy m

w how," I whispered.

e said, pulling back, her face pal

one except Lylah and Madam Serah has

hands. "We're friends, Rian. I'

my voice. I didn't deserve her

---------

hispers. The Omega survived. The King

rsed or sacred. But what made it worse was

Th

nced in my direction. He hadn't summoned me. Had

voiding me like

moment his eyes met mine. But he hadn't claimed me. If anything, he seemed torn by my

k of my mind, constant and silent,

reject me, then let him do it. At least I'll know. I'm

e kitchen helping Madam Serah as

rah dropped the spoon she was holding. I

raight to me and bowed his head sli

e moved to a room inside his private chambe

silence fell o

?" I asked,

He didn'

d fallen open. Serah looked like she wan

nd followed the guard, feeling ever

alk to his wi

hamber, the guard opened the

oor closed so

d frozen, star

ntimate. The thick velvet curtains were a deep shade of midnight blue, matching the embroidered bedding on

like stepping in

g. This was no guest room. This was a room

nd now it

board. Everything was luxurious. Everything smelled like him pine a

gered on the sheets,

the bed, staring at nothing,

would he p

e since that night. He hadn't even looked at me.

his a sign o

ying with me before discarding me? Like I

the silence deepened. I wrapped my arms ar

t even come to s

my hands trembling in my lap. The room was beautiful. B

afraid to take up space in a life that clearly wasn't mine. I stared up at the cei

I just ano

r somethi

rstand you," I whispe

he silence di